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Alexander Isak RIGHT to push for Liverpool move
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A few weeks can make a huge difference in evaluating a club's season outlook, and the flurry of reports regarding star striker Alexander Isak have put a worrying cap on a troubling fortnight at Newcastle United.
Man Utd still need a reliable No. 9 and there is none better than the potentially available Alexander Isak. Manchester United have improved the squad in key attacking positions so far this summer thanks to the acquisitions of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
Simon Jordan tells Newcastle United what to do with Alexander Isak. The Swedish centre-forward scored 27 goals in all competitions last season, including 23 in the Premier League.
Then there are Isak’s wages. His exact demands are unknown but given his status as one of the world’s leading players a range of £250,000 to £300,000 a week is far from unreasonable. At that level, the hit to a club would be £15m-£18m annually.
Isak is reported to have turned down the offer of a new contract at Newcastle and has not travelled with the pre-season squad after expressing an interest in leaving the club this summer. The Magpies insist his absence is due to a thigh injury.
Newcastle are exploring a move for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko in case Alexander Isak leaves this summer - as BBC Sport's Sami Mokbel reports – but is he the man to fill the Sweden international's sizeable shoes on Tyneside?
These factors mean that Isak’s value — around £100m, by consensus — might be affordable to some clubs. But the transfer landscape and Newcastle’s resolve means that his price — possibly over £150m — is borderline unreachable. Whether Liverpool or anyone else could and would be prepared to go that high remains unclear.
Plus: Arsenal are aiming to move swiftly to secure Crystal Palaces Eberechi Eze; Man Utd have had a loan bid rejected for Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez; West Hams Lucas Paqueta is set to be cleared of charges of spot-fixing;
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